Cranberry Old-Fashioned

This Cranberry Old-Fashioned made with cranberry sauce and bourbon, makes a wonderful Christmas cocktail and is a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce. It has an awesome sweet and tart flavor from the cranberries that really complements the bourbon.

You can use whatever your favorite bourbon is for this recipe. Maker’s Mark is my go to bourbon, but there are lots of good ones out there.

The bourbon is really the star of this Cranberry Old-Fashioned as it should be in an Old-Fashioned. The cranberries are just there for a little flavor and color.

This recipe is super easy to mix together in just minutes. For each drink you’ll need 2 tablespoons of cranberry sauce. I use a canned jellied cranberry sauce. It dissolves well in the drink.

You’ll also need 1 sugar cube, an orange slice, and a few drops of bitters. Muddle them together and then add 1/4 cup of bourbon (this is a strong drink!), ice cubes, and a splash of club soda.

What are bitters and why should you use them?

Bitters are an alcoholic liquid flavored with botanicals. Ingredients in bitters vary, but the most common ones are cassia, citrus peels, cascarilla, flowers and herbs.

Bitters add flavor and balance to your cocktails, but a little goes a long way. You likely only need 1 or 2 drops per drink.

Angostura Bitters are the most classic bitter and it is perfect for this drink. You can also find orange-flavored Angostura Bitters which are great for any Old-Fashioned.